How to Prevent Wandering in Dementia

Wandering in dementia is a common and distressing behaviour in people living with dementia. Driven by confusion, restlessness, or the urge to find familiar places, it can pose serious safety concerns. Fortunately, there are practical strategies to reduce wandering while preserving dignity and independence. This guide explores why wandering occurs and offers tips to create a safer environment for your loved one.

Why People with Dementia Wander

• Confusion or Disorientation: Memory loss can make familiar surroundings seem strange, prompting them to seek something or someone they believe is missing.
• Restlessness or Anxiety: Walking may provide relief from feelings of unease or agitation.
• Searching for Familiar Places: They may try to return to a childhood home or a bygone destination, as recent memories grow hazy.
• Boredom: Without engaging activities, someone with dementia may wander simply to occupy themselves.
• Physical Needs: Unmet basic needs—such as hunger, thirst, or the urge to use the toilet—can lead to wandering if they cannot be communicated effectively.

Identifying Triggers and Patterns

Observing when and why your loved one wanders helps you address the root causes. Keep a simple diary of their behaviour over a few weeks to spot patterns:

• Time of Day: Some experience “sundowning,” wandering more in the late afternoon or evening.
• Emotional Upsets: Anxiety, fear, or frustration can trigger a desire to walk.
• Environmental Changes: Unfamiliar rooms, excessive noise, or new furniture may cause disorientation.
• Unmet Needs: Hunger or thirst often goes unspoken, so check these first if they start pacing.

Encouraging Safe Walking and Engagement

Regular, supervised movement helps reduce restlessness and promotes well-being:

• Establish a Routine: A consistent daily schedule—including set times for walks—reduces uncertainty.
• Walk Together: Accompany your loved one around the garden or neighbourhood, providing reassurance and preventing unsupervised wandering.
• Meaningful Tasks: Gentle chores—watering plants, folding laundry, or setting the table—offer purpose from aimless pacing.
• Safe Space: Create a secure distract, enclosed area for unsupervised wandering so your loved one can move freely without risk.

Immediate Steps if a Person with Dementia Goes Missing

1. Stay Calm and Search Familiar Places: Check nearby rooms and favourite spots first. Keep a recent photograph ready to show others.
2. Contact the Police Promptly: Provide a photograph, description, and any known destinations they might seek.
3. Use the Herbert Protocol: This template, available from many UK police forces, gathers essential details—such as medical history and usual routes—so officers can act quickly.
4. Keep Someone at Home: If possible, have one person remain at home in case your loved one returns.
5. Enlist Neighbours and Community Groups: Ask for help from local friends or community social media groups—without sharing sensitive personal information.

Dementia Care at Home

A dementia diagnosis is overwhelming, but most people prefer to remain in familiar surroundings. At Live In Solutions, we offer compassionate, person-centered care in your loved one’s own home. With professionally trained carers who understand the complexities of dementia, we tailor support to keep them safe, engaged, and comfortable.

Why choose Live In Solutions?

• Specialist Training: Carers skilled in dementia-specific communication and support.
• Consistent Care Team: Familiar faces build trust and reduce anxiety.
• Safety Measures: We adapt the home environment to minimise wandering risks and monitor for early warning signs.
• Engagement and Companionship: Structured activities and gentle strolls keep your loved one stimulated and content.

At Live In Solutions, our mission is to enrich your loved one’s lifestyle within the familiarity of home. We provide live-in care, allowing older adults to maintain independence without the need of moving to a care home. Call us today on 01245 890336 for a free, no-obligation quotation and let us help your loved one make the most of this summer—safely, happily and in the comfort of home.